Last fall I transplanted a large peony that I got from a neighbor. I've heard that peonies are tempermental about being moved and it won't bloom the first year after being moved. Is this true? Is there anything I can do this spring to encourage it to bloom this year?

I've never heard that about peonies not blooming 1st yr after transplant. they're really tough old birds and can live 100 years or more! Just give it some compost, full sun and be patient. If it doesn't bloom this year, you'll have at least another 99 to enjoy it!

I did not have problems with blooming with my peonies when I divided and replanted the peony plant, only when I divided eyes and replanted them in very late fall. Then they took even two or three years to re-bloom. I think they are tempermental with regard to depth of planting of the "eyes" or divided roots.

Peonies are wonderful, tough-as-nails plants. I have some here that belonged to my grandmother and they are still blooming - 75 years later!! The only thing that will inhibit their blooming is being planted too deeply. If you were careful to plant the clump at the same depth they were planted at before, you should have blooms this year. If you don't, don't worry....you will eventually. I have a friend that I gave several clumps to a few years ago. She accidently planted them too deep and it took them five years to bloom. But when they finally did - they sure put on a show! We have some here that got covered with over a foot of dirt and within about five years, they worked their way up through the dirt anyway. I should be so resilient!!

Happy growing and let us know if you do get blooms this year, OK? It's fun to hear about other gardener's successes!

Thanks for the advice. I'll let you know how it goes.

Once when I tried to transplant a peony to a different location I ended up with peonys at both locations! Must have missed some! The old location took about 3 years until it bloomed again though.

Even the smallest amount of root left in the ground will turn into a plant. The lady who we bought our house from had a totally pink garden, we (husband not too fond of pink)so we have been slowly changing the colour of the flowers. We have tried for 3 years to get rid of the pink peony but it keeps coming up. I told him if it comes back this spring it was meant to be in the garden and we will leave it alone!

I agree that peonies are tough. When i bought my house i was told that the peonies i found growing up thru the grass had been mowed for 10 years. I dug them up and found great roots and had flowers the next year. And 26 years later they are still beautiful. I have divided them and they bloomed that year. so... go for it and ya never know...

Maybe, maybe not. I have transplanted Peonies in the fall and have had them blossom the following spring and then I have transplanted other Peonies in the fall and they never blossomed again. Then agian I have transplanted Peonies in the spring and had them blossom tht same year. Temperamental, buggers.